Apollo81

Anyway the actual hand here was KQxxx xxxx Axx Q. Certainly not an accept of a 'limit raise' as defined by my previous post, but possibly an accept and certainly a counter try of an 'invitational raise'

It looks to me like a lot of people redefine what a limit raise is based on what partner has shown. This is a very nitpicky point, but in my mind "limit raise" means 'invitational opposite a standard opener' and "invitational" means 'partner should bid game on most hands and sign off with no extras'. It is obvious from the replies to this post that a lot of people equate these two terms, whereas I do not. I consider Axxx Kxxx xx Kxx to be a limit raise in either major, but would not call it invitational opposite an overcall. If I sit down with someone and discuss a card in about 15 minutes time and agree that (1x)-1y-(p)-2NT is a limit raise, I would assume we mean 'invitational opposite a standard opener' Thus I would not accept/reject/countertry with the same hands as most of the posters. If we agreed that it is an 'invitational' raise, that's different. Does anyone else share this philosophy or am I way out in left field here?

87 106 AK Q1087542 MPs none vul (1♠)-2♥-(p)-? (once some replies come I will post what happens after various bids, there may be a 2nd decision in some cases)

It's not a lead problem, lol. I really should have posted this under "uninteresting bridge hands" maybe we need a new category =)

10 J1087 K109xxx Ax all red MPs (p)-3♣-(3♠)-? you can trust partner to have his bid

all of you 2Ners, is anyone raising to game if pard signs off?

Dbl = takeout 1N = 17-20- w/ stopper 2cdh = NF, 5+, something like 16-19 HCP Dbl and pull = stronger than direct action, not sure whether "foricng" or "NF" is std for suit bids, I would probably play as semiforcing if undiscussed(can pass with a hopeless hand like xxx xxx xxx xxxx) jumps = forcing, 6+ in suit

I think the whole point of this thread was that now we can't bid 3♦ like we would have done over a 1N response since that understates the spades and the playing strength of this hand.

fixed my post

I guess I should clarify 1. whats your first call 2. whats your plan over possible subsequent calls by pard (like a signoff)

it's a series of related failures each triggered by the previous failure http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cascading_failure they call it a cascading failure but i've always heard it called a cascade failure

♠A1052 ♥J5 ♦1085 ♣AK54 W/W imps (1♣)-1♠-(p)-?? Along with the standard options you have 2NT = 4-card limit (edit: or better) raise and 3♣ = 4 card mixed raise.

When you make a mistake is it called a Cascade failure? =)

How often can the opponents make 4♠? What are the passers going to do after 4♠ on their left, passed back to them? Double and lead the ♦A, and if I knew they were going to balance I'd definitely pass. The problem is that you could easily be cold for 5 (or even 6) clubs or the opps could give it to you on a minor suit lead even if it's not cold

insta 3N

No because they did not raise hearts and pard did not support double (dunno if you play that)

The only two treatments I've ever heard of are some sort of blackwood/keycard or shortness asking. I'd play this as RKC since the shortness ask (which I'm sure is better in theory) won't come up enough to make it worth the memory load.

...if they're on crack...

Automatic 5♣

Seriously? Eww. You are even favorable.

In the auction you had, I would have chosen either 4♥ or 4♠ as North rather than 3NT. South has a possible 4♦ call over 3NT, but I suspect a large majority would pass if you had posted this as a problem.

I'd pass and let partner hack them if he sees fit. If he bids a major I'll bid 3♣. I agree with 1♣

I disagree. East has no idea whether 5♠ was to make, a sacrifice, or a two-way bid. He similarly has no idea about 5♣. I would pass with the East cards and take the plus. This sort of hand is precisely why I chose a 5♣ response -- all of their bids are so wide ranging they dont necessarily know what to do.

and I would play to make based on this

I'd guess LHO started with x Axxx Q9xxx Kxxx and RHO started with -- Kxxxx xx AQJxxx, this explains LHO's opening lead (would probably lead hearts if had nothing there or hK, would probably make an active lead with no diamond card) and RHO's thinking (i want to bid but my hearts suck, if I bid do I bid clubs or hearts?)